Michael Kernan. Administrator, Author at Abiding Care

December 18, 2018 by Michael Kernan. Administrator

What to Do During an A-Fib Episode

Atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, is when the heart beats irregularly. It may beat too quickly, feel like it is skipping a beat, or seem to flutter in the chest. People who experience A-fib should see a doctor as it can lead to serious complications. However, once your aging relative has seen a doctor and is being treated, episodes of A-fib can often be dealt with at home.

Stopping A-Fib Episodes

There are a few things that your aging relative can try at home to stop an A-fib episode, such as:

Use Deep Breathing: Taking slow, deep breaths may help the heart return to a regular pattern. It’s a good idea to have your aging relative practice deep breathing so they know how to do it when the time comes. The steps for deep breathing are:

1. Sit comfortably with one hand on the stomach.
2. Inhale through the nose for 4 seconds causing the stomach to rise.
3. Hold the breath for a few seconds.
4. Breathe slowly out through the mouth for 4 seconds.

Drink Cold Water: Sometimes drinking cold water slowly can give the heart a little shock and make it return to a normal rhythm.
Vagal Maneuvers: Vagal maneuvers trigger the vagal nerve, which plays a role in heart function. Have the older adult cough or bear down like they are trying to have a bowel movement.

Preventing an Episode

Rather than planning to stop A-fib episodes when they happen, it’s better to be proactive and prevent them from happening in the first place. Some ways to prevent an episode are:

Avoid Triggers: There are some things that can bring on an episode of A-fib, such as caffeine, alcohol, stress, and lack of sleep.
Lose Weight: Being overweight is a risk factor for several diseases that can cause A-fib, such as high blood pressure, sleep apnea, and diabetes.
Quit Smoking: Smoking is a risk factor for A-fib. In fact, people who smoke are at twice the risk as people who don’t smoke.
Reduce Stress: Anger and stress are both known to bring on A-fib.

Elderly care can help older adults who have A-fib to both prevent and stop episodes. An elderly care provider can remind the senior to try deep breathing or a vagal maneuver. Or, an elderly care provider can bring them a glass of cold water. Elderly care providers can also assist seniors to avoid triggers. They can even help with weight loss by cooking healthy meals and helping the older adult to be more physically active.

If you are considering elderly care in Park Ridge, IL, for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at A-Abiding Care today. Serving North and Northwest Chicago and the surrounding area for over 30 years. Call 847-698-1400.

Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/atrial-fibrillation/how-to-stop-episode
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320285.php

December 4, 2018 by Michael Kernan. Administrator

5 Ways for Caregivers to Beat Holiday Stress

Even on a normal day, being a caregiver to an older adult can be stressful. But, the approaching holidays can bring even more stress. On top of your usual caregiver duties, you’ll have gifts to buy, decorating to accomplish, and family gatherings. Not only do you have to do those things for yourself, you may also have to help your older family with them, too. All of that can increase the stress you’re feeling. Fortunately, there are ways caregivers can make holidays less stressful. Here are 5 ways to beat holiday stress.

#1: Be Honest About Your Time and Energy

You may feel pressured to host holiday gatherings or attend lots of different events. If that’s the case, be honest with yourself and others about how much you can handle given your caregiver duties. If you’re not up to hosting, don’t. Or, ask someone to co-host. Divide up tasks so that you take on only what you can handle.

#2: Don’t Address Disappointments

Many caregivers are disappointed with other members of the family for their lack of support. If that’s true for you, consider letting those issues lie during the holidays. Instead, focus on enjoying the holidays and plan to address issues another time.

#3: Keep Activities Simple

Caregiver Park Ridge IL: 5 Ways for Caregivers to Beat Stress

There’s no need for caregivers to go over the top with holiday activities. Simple ones can be just as meaningful. For example, instead of spending hours baking and decorating cookies, try an alternative. Lots of churches hold cookie walks near the holidays where you can purchase your holiday cookies and know the money is going to a good cause. Or, you could use pre-made dough or unfrosted cookies, so you can still have the fun of decorating them.

#4: Begin a New Tradition

One of the things that may cause caregivers to stress during the holidays is knowing that they have to give up some old traditions because of changes in the older adult’s abilities. Instead of focusing on those losses, start some new traditions. If you used to walk the neighborhood and look at the lights, but your older relative can’t do that anymore, consider taking a drive instead.

#5: Schedule Home Care Early

The holidays are likely to change your regular schedule. Talk to the home care agency as soon as possible about your holiday plans. That way, the agency is more likely to have a staff member available at the times you need.

Sources:

https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/life-balance/info-2018/holiday-stress-tips.html?intcmp=AE-HP-TTN-R1-POS1-REALPOSS-TODAY

https://www.caregiver.org/caregiving-and-holidays-stress-success

If you are considering caregivers in Park Ridge, IL, for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at A-Abiding Care today. Serving North and Northwest Chicago and the surrounding area for over 30 years. Call 847-698-1400.

November 20, 2018 by Michael Kernan. Administrator

Consider Elderly Care Providers for Senior Night Care

Elder Care Park Ridge IL: Senior Night Care

Getting up several times in the night to help their elderly parent is a common occurrence for family caregivers. There are numerous health conditions that awaken aging adults in the night when they should be sleeping. For seniors with mobility issues or cognitive decline, they already rely on a family caregiver for help with daily tasks. At night, they need similar help, too.

Family caregivers that spend their days taking care of aging loved ones can’t afford to have their sleep disrupted night after night. Sleep deprivation can negatively affect a family caregiver’s physical and mental health, which could lead to caregiver burnout. Many family caregivers are turning to elder care providers to do senior night care, so they can get enough sleep to tackle the challenges of each day.

Here are just some of the ways that elder care providers can make nighttime easier for aging adults and give family caregivers the rest they need:

Assisting with bathroom trips: It’s common for elderly adults to make frequent trips to the bathroom, especially if they have a urinary tract infection, diabetes or overactive bladder. An elder care provider can help them get to the toilet in a timely manner and assist them in the event there is an accident.
Insomnia: There are many reasons why elderly adults have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep. An elder care provider can be at their side to help them get situated and settled enough to get back to sleep.
Chronic pain: With lots of health issues that result in chronic pain, it’s no wonder that elderly adults often wake up in the night. Sometimes they need repositioning to get more comfortable, such as a pillow behind their back or turned to lay on their other side. Often, some pain medication can help get back to sleep. The elderly care provider cannot administer medication but can oversee the senior as they do it.
Dementia: It’s very common for seniors with dementia to have problems sleeping. If they wake up in the night, they are often disoriented and panic. It takes a while to get them calm and back to sleep. Wandering is quite common with seniors and dementia. To keep them safe and accounted for, elder care providers on night duty can step in and take over.
Less sleep: Sometimes elderly adults simply need less sleep than others. In this case, they may be bored, restless or irritated. An elder care provider can help them focus on quiet activities and keep them occupied so they don’t become agitated or bored.
Safety: If the elderly adult is living on their own, they may fear to be alone at night. Having another person in the house can be a great comfort and may lead to deeper and more restful sleep. Even if their physical needs are minimum, a senior who doesn’t like to be alone can gain peace of mind knowing that someone is there to keep them company and help if needed.

No matter why an aging adult gets up in the night, family caregivers should consider how valuable and important night care services are for their health and safety.

If you are considering elder care in Park Ridge, IL for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at A-Abiding Care today. Serving North and Northwest Chicago and the surrounding area for over 30 years. Call 847-698-1400.

November 7, 2018 by Michael Kernan. Administrator

Five Reasons Family Caregivers Say They Chose to Hire Home Care

When a parent needs help, a first thought is usually to take care of it yourself. Sacrificing an hour or two each day or week to help out seems best. Over time, some find that decision weighs heavily on their well-being. Here are five stories from caregivers who made the decision to hire home care.

There’s No Need to Cut Work Hours

To care for an elderly parent, many family caregivers have to reduce hours at work. If that’s not possible, home care services have to be arranged before or after work hours and on days off. In addition to a full-time work schedule, evenings, weekends, and early mornings are now spent taking care of someone else. Free time becomes a thing of the past.

A Move to a New Location Doesn’t Have to Happen

Selling a house takes time and money. Lawyer fees, closing costs, and movers can eat up a good chunk of a senior citizen’s savings. When home care is chosen, the need to move to a new home is eliminated.

Parents Listen Better to Someone Else

Family caregivers often find their parents are resistant to doing what their adult children ask them to do. They were the parent for two decades, and it’s hard to switch roles. They’ll argue points, refuse to do certain things, and get frustrated when they’re pushed. It’s often easier to have a caregiver come in on the terms that the caregiver is an employee and the senior citizen retains the role of “boss.”

Some Home Care Tasks Are Hard to Do Without Training

There are some aspects of home care that are really hard for an untrained family caregiver to handle. Lifting a parent in and out of bed or a shower is hard when you don’t have the upper-body strength. Remaining patient when your parent is refusing to do what you ask is challenging.

The Need to Take a Break

Family caregivers who try to do it all without help are prone to burning out. They’re also more likely to delay medical appointments and self-care. This can lead to extreme stress that impacts mental, emotional, and physical health.

You can provide your mom or dad’s care on your own, but you should never feel like it’s the only option. Home care can be a lifesaver, even if you only use the services for an hour or two a week. Call us today to learn more about respite care.

If you are considering homecare in Park Ridge, IL for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at A-Abiding Care today. Serving North and Northwest Chicago and the surrounding area for over 30 years. Call 847-698-1400.

October 19, 2018 by Michael Kernan. Administrator

How Poor Oral Health Can Affect the Body

When it comes to the health of an older adult, there can be a lot of things to think about. This is especially true if your aging relative has a chronic condition, like diabetes or a heart condition. With so many other health concerns to worry about, you may not spend much time worrying about the senior’s oral health. However, there are lots of good reasons to encourage seniors to keep up with taking good care of their mouths. In fact, doctors have identified the following health problems as ones that can be impacted by poor oral health.

Alzheimer’s and Stroke

Studies show that older adults who have severe cases of gum disease are more likely to have Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, there appears to be a link between gum disease and stroke. In one study, people who had had strokes demonstrated higher levels of specific kinds of bacteria in their saliva.

Endocarditis

The lining of the heart is called the endocardium. When it becomes infected, the condition is called endocarditis. It usually occurs because of bacteria from other parts of the body, including the mouth, get into the bloodstream. From there, they attach themselves to parts of the heart that are already damaged.

Pneumonia

If your aging relative is admitted to the hospital, it is important that they take care of their mouths while in the hospital. That’s because research indicates that hospital patients who received oral care while in the hospital had a lower rate of hospital-related pneumonia.

Heart Disease

According to WebMD, as many as 91 percent of people with heart disease also have gum disease. This may be because the two problems have common risk factors, including smoking, obesity, and a poor diet. However, many doctors also believe that the inflammation caused by gum disease also causes the blood vessels to become inflamed. This increases blood pressure and the risk of heart attack.

Blood Sugar Levels

Not only are people with diabetes more prone to developing gum disease, gum disease also makes it harder for diabetics to keep their blood sugar levels under control. People with diabetes benefit from regular oral health care because it can make diabetes easier to control.

Unfortunately, some older adults struggle to care for their teeth and gums because of physical or cognitive disabilities. Dementia can make it hard for seniors to understand the steps involved in brushing their teeth. Older adults who have had a stroke or who have arthritis might have trouble holding a toothbrush. Senior care can help them. Senior care providers can walk people with dementia through the steps of brushing their teeth or hold their hand to help them brush. Senior care providers can also brush the teeth of seniors who do not have full use of their hands. In addition, if your aging relative cannot drive themselves to dental appointments, a senior care provider can offer transportation.

Sources

https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2018/healthy-teeth-prevent-disease.html?intcmp=AE-HP-TOT-POS1-REALPOSS-TODAY
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/oral-health-the-mouth-body-connection#1
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20047475

If you are considering senior care in Rolling Meadows, IL for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at A-Abiding Care today. Serving North and Northwest Chicago and the surrounding area for over 30 years. Call 847-698-1400.